WTH are you talking about

if you think I am a racist you are very mistaken

 

Man, did you ever take that wrong. I was saying talking about racism is where it starts to clear up. You did that. Hopefully, this clears that up. - Og

 

Why did yoy say that? Reread, he said you were not.

 

sorry bout that. I read it as people like me being the race problem.

late in the day.

 

It's casual. - Og

 

Thanks for the understanding, Blue. You're alright. - Og

 

OK guys I'm out for a few days probably Monday night before ill be back you all behave yourselves and try to keep this thread going and ill catch up on Mon

see ya

 

Monday? By Monday they'll be talkin about my momma.

 

Hey Og,

I just have to add one very funny conversation I had several years ago that I nearly forgot. I travel a lot for work and thus spend a lot of time in the airport and on planes (who would have thunk it ). This was probably 2005 or 2006 but tensions were still high about terrorism and planes, as if it's even calmed down at all.

Usually I don't talk to anyone, I just sit in my seat, work or read to pass the time. I was sitting next to a guy who looked over my shoulder and saw the article about terrorism in a magazine I was watching. He and I spoke for a few minutes, he was a very educated and well spoken guy and it was a nice conversation. The gentleman was black which is only worth saying for this next explanation which was the joke he made. As we're watching people get on the plane, several "classic arabic" individuals boarded the plane and made their way to their seats. He said something to the effect of "Now this is one thing that the black man and the white man can get together on when it comes to this arabic terrorism. Our races may not have a ton of things in common and everyone seems to want to find a reason to not like each other between blacks and whites, but we can sure agree that everyone needs to take the towel of their heads and keep their *** in their seats. Because if someone gets up and walks towards that door, the white guy and the black guy are getting up and kicking some ***."

Granted at it's core, the comment could be deemed racist at true "politically correct" status, but it reminded me of a sociology class I had in college. Which taught us that humans (regardless of race) all lump people together based on common looks or actions because our minds cannot process everyone as an individual. It's just not possible with the capacity of the human brain. It is why we create "generalisms".

For example: If the average person saw someone in a complete orange or black with white stripes jump suit, they would assume that person was a prisoner. This is because that historically most people only see someone wearing these outfits in a prison. However, that person could be wearing it as a work out outfit and be going for a run. You don't know that though because you lump them into the general population of people you've ever seen wearing those color outfits.

 

Monday? You musta missed post 173

 

Cool story, Duke. - Og

 

I never said it was. In fact, it's not. However, to assume that "less qualified" women or black people are being accepted over better qualified whites, then to that I say- "prove it". That goes back to my white entitlement theory.

Why is it OK for whites to feel entitled to my job, and I (blacks) shouldn't be granted the opportunity (AA) to compete for it? AA doesn't guarantee blacks a job or preferential treatment. All it guarantees (or requests of employers) is that they take "affirmative action" with regard to considering minority candidates for jobs. Why should I not feel "entitled" to a chance to compete for a job? I'm qualified, I'm trainable...

I'm sure blacks and minorities would agree to abolish Affirmative Action, if we had reason to believe those in power would be fair in their hiring practices. Do you really think America is at that point yet?

Personal example: A manager slot came open in my department in 2000. The top two candidates were myself, and a white guy who we will call "Robert".

He and I had very similar backgrounds. I had ten years in the Army, he had nine years in the Navy. I was in Telecom, he was a fuel handler. I had three years in the department, he had one year in the department, and three years total of corporate telecom experience. I was in the management development program and he wasn't. We'd both competed for, and both got passed over for management jobs before. Yet, he told a friend of mine (he didn't know the guy was my friend) that he knew he was the front runner for the position because he was more qualified to be a manager than I was.

Oh really? Is that the white-skin qualification- because that's the only "advantage" he had over me. That, and kissing every other manager's butt whenever they'd let him. I refused. If my work doesn't do it for me, then I won't get it through butt kissery.

We were the same age (31), same back ground, same level of education (HS diploma, at the time). In fact, I had some college, and he had none. Yet, he felt he was more qualified than me. Why? What made him think he was more qualified than me? Could it be, entitlement? Perhaps he thought he was genetically granted a higher level of intellect- or something?

Well, 24 Sept 2000, I got the call that I was promoted officially, that day (Sunday). The official announcement was made to the department on that Monday, and that Friday, it was my pleasure to accept his badge as he quit, and stormed out like a big 31 year old baby. I couldn't help but crack a smile as I escorted him to his car. We didn't like each other, but that was his choice. I was cool with everyone else, but him.

 

Continued.

Dude, you're way off base for that.

Besides, I didn't bring up slavery. But, since you did- to pretend 430 years of slavery, and another 100 years of blacks (1865 - 1965) struggling for equal rights/treatment is inconsequential, is to look at the world through rose-colored lenses.

Sure, there are black racists. The difference is, blacks own and lead very little in the USA, and black hiring discrimination would do little to impact the prosperity of whites. However, being the majority (white males) perhaps your burden is proportionally heavier than most. But, as you can tell by statistics- you're still winning by a 3:1 ratio over blacks. So, if white males are losing, who is winning?

I agree though, the younger generation is starting to get it, and the lines are beign blurred. I see blacks and whites hanging out together quite often where I live. Soon, it won't matter if you're black or white, but it's clear to me that there is still racial inequality and injustice between the races. As long as that's the case- then there need to be legal steps in place to make sure attention is placed upon those who decide to be harsh(er) towards one race than they are to another (or their own).

No, if anyone deserves special treatment in the USA, it's teh native Americans.

No, Dr. King didn't say that. But, he did say he longed for the day when his children (black children) would be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I long for that day too- but, it's not here yet.

Because it's not working. We just discussed how white women have benefitted more than the "minorities" the program was intended for. Do I think AA is a perfect solution? Absolutely not. Obviously not, but- as long as the playing field isn't level, then I think programs that insure equal hiring practices- needs to remain in place.

Personally, I have worked my **** off for what I have, and I don't feel anyone has "given" me anything. AA may have opened the door for the recruiter to call me, but it's been my faith, my work ethic, my performance, my self-improvement practices, and my results that have kept me employed, when hundreds, if not thousands in the same field, have lost their jobs.

I'm pretty damn good at what I do (OK, maybe not today~ ), and I've earned every certificate, every diploma, and every degree. It hasn't been handed to me. So, it rubs me the worng way when I detect a hint of someone saying blacks may be in certain positions only there because of AA.

That might be true, from an anti good-old-boy perspective. AA may open the door, but diversity has been preached everywhere I've worked, so I think we're getting to a time that things will be better, and that corporations can govern themselves. But, it's not true based upon who those on the outside believe are qualified, or who is not qualified to do what.

 

Well, I've never been anti-any race. But, when I joined the Army, and saw all my brothers and sisters in those BDU's, and the only way to tell who was Black, White, Hispanic, or Asian, was to look at the little bit of skin that shows when one is in uniform (hands & face), serves to put a frame around how silly racism really is. Because, at the core- it's the skin color that seperates us.

The military is probably the one and only place where we're the closest to racial equality.

I agree though, if we're on a plane, and some joker- regardless of his race, runs towards that door, he's catching a beat down from every one close to him.

 

Ok, my company has inspection Divers who are Professionally Registered Engineers (mostly Civil, some Structural) who can perform an inspection of a structure for less money and in less time than a Minority Owned Company (who doesn't used Professionally Registered Engineers), yet we've lost jobs to Minority Owned Companies.

Do you need more proof?

And giving some groups special treatment is supposed to help eliminate differences between those groups????

Well maybe it was his butt kissery that he thought gave him the advantage. Did he say he thought he would get it because he was white, or did you assume that because you have something against white people?

Well then your story is pointless. The more qualified person got the job (I hope). You're just upset because a white man thought he was more qualified than you. There are lots of people, of all colors, who think they're more qualified than the next person, regardless of whether or not they are, and regardless of genetics.

Exactly my point. Your performance got you were you are today. You didn't need special treatment, so why should it be different for anyone else? There are 100s of thousands of black people who work hard, don't bitch, don't get in trouble, pay their taxes, raise their children right and do the right thing, but we don't hear about them because that's not exciting. Al Sharpton screaming bloody murder because a white person said something that might be offensive gets much higher ratings.

- NCSU